Subaru's press event was nothing short of spectacular and I say that in a fully sarcastic manner. The R1e that we already took many a peek at was officially unveiled by Subaru's head honchos. If you're wondering, the R1e will not be making it stateside, at least not anytime soon. However, it was announced that Subaru will be working with the New York Power Authority, which happily accepted two R1e's. They will now drive them around and allow Subaru to monitor their performance, as well as potential consumer demand. Like I said, spectacular. Press release after the jump.

SUBARU TO EVALUATE QUICK CHARGE ELECTRIC CAR WITH NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY

NEW YORK, March 20, 2008 - Subaru today announced that it would begin evaluating its R1e electric vehicle (EV) in the United States this summer. The Subaru R1e will be on display at the New York International Auto Show, from March 21-30 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Based on the Subaru R1 minicar sold in Japan, the R1e was developed by Subaru in partnership with the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO). The utility has been testing a fleet of R1e electric cars since 2006. As part of a U.S. test program, two of the Subaru R1e electric cars will join the New York Power Authority (NYPA) fleet.

"This new partnership with the New York Power Authority is further demonstration of Subaru's ongoing efforts in applying electric car technology in real world situations. Along with our newly introduced diesel powered cars, electric cars are a viable response to our need to improve fuel consumption and carbon output," said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and chief marketing office for Subaru of America, Inc. "The R1e electrical vehicles are designed for city dwellers looking for an environmentally friendly and fun to drive alternative to gas powered cars."

"This joint venture with Subaru builds on the New York Power Authority's extensive involvement with clean transportation and gives us the opportunity to offer the latest in electric drive technologies to our customers," Roger B. Kelley, president and chief executive officer, New York Power Authority.

The Subaru R1e employs state-of-the-art, fast-charge lithium ion battery technology that eliminates typical lithium ion battery issues of charge memory loss, allowing partial charges and quick charges that do not decrease battery life. The two-seat Subaru R1e is capable of driving at speeds up to 65 mph with a range of up to 50 miles, making it an ideal urban commuter. The Subaru R1e can be "quick-charged" to 80 percent capacity in only 15 minutes using quick-charge technology. The vehicle can be fully charged overnight (eight hours) while connected to a standard household electrical outlet. The R1e uses an AC permanent magnet synchronized motor producing 40 kW.

"Subaru's goal is to become the leading brand in the electric vehicle market," said Ikuo Mori, president, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. "The R1e is an example of today's cutting edge battery technology, while the Subaru G4e Concept Car shows a glimpse into the future of electric cars."

There are currently 40 Subaru R1e vehicles in use and Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries will place an additional 100 electric vehicles into a consumer test program in Japan in 2009.
Subaru is concentrating on developing battery technology that could be used not only for electric vehicles like the R1e, but also in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and, eventually, fuel cell electric vehicles (FEVs). Compared to nickel metal hydride or nickel-hydrogen battery technology, lithium-ion battery technology offers a number of advantages, among them easier packaging, higher power density, better cooling for longer life, and potentially lower cost.

Service life for the high-density lithium-ion battery is estimated at 10 years and 130,000 miles, another environmental benefit of Subaru technology. The battery pack is also designed to be easily recycled. The laminated battery packs are flat, rather than cylindrical, and can fit in a space four inches high, offering EV manufacturers wide latitude in vehicle design and packaging for better weight balance. The battery's basic design and composition consist of laminate, manganese, and lithium ion.